Consumer Information: The Florida Bar provides information for the public on certain general areas of law as well as specific legal issues in their Consumer Pamphlets.

Speakers Bureau: The Florida Bar has assembled a group of outstanding lawyers throughout the state who speak to groups within their communities as a public service.

Call-A-Law: Call-A-Law scripts are provided to give general information about a specific legal issue or area of law.

Clients' Security Fund: The Clients' Security Fund was created by The Florida Bar to help compensate persons who have suffered a loss of money or property due to misappropriation or embezzlement by an attorney.

Group and Prepaid Legal Services: Prepaid Legal Services plans work by making prior arrangements with lawyers to provide specified services to plan members at reduced fees.

LEGAL SERVICE - LEGAL AID
If you have a civil legal problem but cannot afford to hire a private lawyer, you still may have access to the legal system through the legal aid organization which provides free or low cost legal services to persons with low incomes.

WHAT DO LEGAL SERVICES LAWYERS DO?
Lawyers in a legal services office provide the same legal services as any other attorney. They can advise and represent you in most areas of civil law, although each program has priorities for the type of cases they will take.

Because the number of people demanding legal services exceeds the amount of staff and money available to handle cases, legal services offices limit the types of cases taken.

Criminal cases are not handled because the state provides public defenders to represent persons accused of criminal actions who cannot afford private attorneys.
Also, the legal services offices generally do not deal with cases where a person is seeking money as a settlement. In such cases a private attorney will usually represent a client without any initial charge, collecting a fee only if the client's case is won. Then the attorney's fee is a percentage of the client's settlement. This is called a contingency fee.

WHAT CASES ARE HANDLED BY LEGAL SERVICES OFFICES?The following are only a few examples of the types of cases usually handled.

ACTION LINE
Action Line cuts through red tape, gets answers, solves problems and stands up for your rights. You can contact Action Line by email at actionline@miamiherald.com, by writing Action Line, 1 Herald Plaza, Miami, FL 33132 or by calling 305-376-3000. Broward residents can call 954-463-0404.